JMEC: S Sudan peace deal 'wounded, not dead'

JMEC Deputy Chairman Ambassador Augostino Njoroge says the peace deal in South Sudan is 'wounded' but not yet dead and he calls it the best remaining hope for sustainable peace.

Njoroge said this during a briefing to the African Union Peace and Security Council at the start of their three-day visit to South Sudan. He thanked the Council members for their visit and urged a vigorous diplomatic agenda to remove the threat of violence in South Sudan

“The Peace Agreement may be wounded, but it is still alive and remains our best hope for sustainable peace in South Sudan,” said the JMEC deputy chairman.

“Every diplomatic effort must be made to stop all hostilities and restore the ceasefire with immediate effect so that implementation of the Agreement can resume properly.”

“Insecurity around the country is having a profound impact on the lives of ordinary South Sudanese. Human Rights are being compromised, livelihoods are destabilized, the economy is weakened and people are left scared and anxious,” he added.

JMEC is the monitoring body tasked with helping implement South Sudan's August 2015 peace deal. The group is led by Botswana's former president Festus Mogae.